Ironing machine



H. C. ELLIS ET AL IRONING MACHINE Original Filed March 20, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet Patented Get. 23, E928.

oarra s'rfrss PATENT rates.

IRONING MACHINE.

Application-filed March 20, 1926', Serial No. 96,113.. Rene-wed fieptemberrG, 1928.

The invention relates to ironing machines and more particularly to that type in which a flat-iron is reciprocated by power over a fixed table under control. of the operator.

One object of the invention is to provide'a machine of this type with improved mechanism for reciprocating the flat-iron which comprises reverse gearing which is stationarily mounted on the frame. v

Another object of the invention is to provi'de improved reciprocating mechanism in which the reverse gearing is stationarily mounted and controlled from ahandle on the reciprocable flat-iron carriage.

Other objects of'the invention will appear from the detailed description.

The invention consistsin the several novel features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawings: Fig,.1 is a perspective of amachine embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan. Fig. 3 is a longitudinalsection. Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the flat-iron-carriage. Fig. 5 is a. section on line 55 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a diagramof, the locking gears of the controllerdevioe. Fig. 7 is a detail of the carriage lifting device.

. The invention is exemplified in a structure comprising a supporting frame which is built up of sides 10, a longitudinal member 11 and a plate having a horizontal portion forming a base 13 and a vertical portion having a back, all of which are rigidly secured .together'in suitable manner,,to form a rigid supporting structure. An ironing board or table is supported in an elevated'vposition by a standard 16 adjacent one end, which is provided with an angular extension 17 to sup port the other end, so that garments may be slipped over the table. The ironing table is usually heated by any suitable means, usually electrically,,in a manner wellunderstood in the art. A flat-iron 18, containing a resistance element, is of sufficient Weight to pro-- duce the necessary pressure for ironing, is reciprocable horizontally over the table. and is suspended by a. uniform joint 19from an arm 20, this joint permitting the necessary freedom of movement of the iron to cause it to engage the material being, ironed. Arm 20 is formed on a carriage-.24 which is provided. with circular bearings 21 and 22 which are adapted to slide and rock. on a shaft zgwhi'ch. extends longitudinally across the back of". the frame and is fixedframe-sides 10.

The improved mechanism, for reciprocatmg the carriage, comprises a drive-shaft 25 which. may be driven by a. pulley 26 or. from a motor in. any; suitable manner; a friction pulley 27 fixed to and constantly rotated by shaft 25; friction wheels 28-and 29, adapted to alternately contact with pulley 27', so as to be frictionally driven in opposite. directions thereby; a transverse shaft 30 on Which pulley-s 28 and 29 are slidably mounted,and which is connected'so as to be driven by said pulleys by a spline 39'; a pulley 32 keyedto rot-ate with shaft 30; and an endless belt 33 driven by pulley 32 and extending. longitudinally across the backof the frame and in the Y having its otherend guided by an idler pulley 34 which is adj ustably mounted, as at 35, so that any slack in the belt may be taken up when necessary. Shafts 25- and" 30 are suitably journalled' in a bracket 36 attached to one of the frame-sides 10. Belt 33-isconnected to shift thecarriiage 24 by means of a lug 37' Whichis attached tothe belt and ent'ends into av groove 38 formed in the carriage 24, to permit the carriage tobe rocked slightly to liftthe iron off the WOl'lQ, Pulleys 28 and 29' are adapted to alternately engage the pulley 27" so the shaft BOWlll be driven n opposite directions to operate the belt 33 in opposite directions, and! are also adapted to assume a neutral positionto stop the op.- eration of thebelt when desired.

In practice, ity is desirable that reciprocation' of the iron should-be readily and conveniently controllable so-the operator may start, stop and reverse the iron at any pointwithin its range of movement. For this purpose, a controller handle 45'is mounted on the carr riage 24 and isfixedto a shaft 46 which is pivotally confined in the arm 20 0f the carriage. The connection "forshifting the friction pulleys 28 andf29, which are carried" by the frame, comprises a gear-wheel 47, fixed to rotate with shaft 46'; a. gear wheel 48, rotatable by gear. 47', slidably and rot'atably mounted on shaft. 23, andshifted longitudinally with the carriage 24 by a fork .49 formed on the carriage and .ext'endingintoan annular groove- 50*in,its hub; a fork 51; rigid. with gear 48.; abail. structure, .which is adapted to be rocked by fork. 51, and which. comprises alongitudinalishaft 52lhavingits endsv our.- nailed. inthe frame-aides 1.0, armsta Xed to said shaft and a. longitudinal rod 54 fixed in said arms and extending through the fork 51, so that the shaft 52 may be rocked while the carriage is at any point within its range of movement; an arm 55 fixed to shaft 52 at the outer side of one of the frame-sides 10; arod 56 reciprocable by said arm; and a shifter fork 57 pivoted to said rod, ful crumed at 58, and provided with studs 59 extending into an annular groove 60 on the hub between pulleys 28 and 29. The teeth between gears 47 and 48 are of the interlocking type as shown in 6, so that gear 48 and the pulley shifting connection operable thereby will be locked in three positions to hold pulleys 28 and 29 in neutral position, in position to hold pulley 28 in frictional contact withdrive pulley 27 or in position to hold pulley 29 in engagement with pulley 27'. This exemplifies a shifting connection for a reversible friction drive by which the driven pulleys will be locked in operative and rock shaft 52 which will rock the shifter fork 57 through arm 55 and rod 56 to bring the pulley 28 into engagement with the drive pulley 27 whereupon the carriage 24 and thefiat iron carried thereby will be operated in a rectilinear path in one direction. When the gear 48 has been thus shifted, it will be locked by gear 47 to hold the pulley 28 in frictional engagement with pulley 27. When the handle 45 is rocked in the opposite direc tion by the operator, gear 48 will be shifted across its neutral position and into position to bring the pulley 29 into engagement with the drive pulley, 27, whereupon the carriage and flat-iron will be operated longitudinally in reverse direction. In this position, the shifting connection will also be locked by the gear 47, so it will continue to be driven until the gear 47 is again shifted. This exemplifies a reversible friction drive gearing'for reciprocating the carriage, which is stationarily mounted on the frame, Which'may be readily locked in its several positions, and which is controllable by the manipulation of a handle on the carriage. To automatically stop the carriage when it reaches the end of its stroke in either direction, an arm 59 is fixed to shaft 46, and abutments 60 and 61 are fixed to the frame sides respectively. When the carriagereaches theend of its stroke in one direction, abutment 60 will shift arm 59 to bring the friction gearing into its neutral position, and when the carriage reaches the other end of its stroke, shift arm 59 to bring the clutch shifting mechanism into neutral position.

In practice, it is frequently desirable to lift the iron over obstructions, such as buttons or thick seams, on the material being ironed, without stopping the iron, to facilitate work. To permit this to be done, provision is made whereby the operator may manually and readily lift the iron off the work and lower it. Carriage 24 is free to rock on shaft 23 for this purpose. A roller 71 is mounted on the lower end of a loop 72, projecting downwardly from the carriage. This roller is adapted to be shifted by angle bar 73 which extends longitudinally across the back of the frame and is pivotally suspended at its ends by arms which are hung to a shaft 52 which extends between the frame-sides. Angle bar 7 3 carries a roller 7 4: which is adapted to be engaged by a vertically sliding cam 7 5 on a rod 76 which is held in guides 77. A lever 78, for shifting the rod 76, is fulcrumed to the base at 7 9 and provided at its front end with a pedal 80, so that the operator may at any time, by depressing the pedal, swing the carriage 24E upwardly to lift the iron off the work and then permit it to drop. A spring 81 is applied to normally hold cam 7 5 in its inoperative position. Roller 71 is normally disengaged by angle bar 73, so that the weight'of the iron will be applied to the work. a The range of movement of the flat-iron to the right is sufficient to permit it to travel off the ironing table, and to effect automatic lifting of the iron and'hold it supported after it passes off the table 15, a track 82 is formed adjacent one end of the angle bar 73 onto which the roller 71 will ride *efore the iron leaves the table 15. The clearance between the drive pulley and the pulleys 28, 29 is sufficient so that the rocking of the carriage sufficiently to lift theiron off the t-able,.Will not render either of the pulleys operable while handle 45 is in its neutral position. Springs 67 are interposed between arm 55 and collars 68 fixed to rod 56, to permit slight movement of arm 55 resulting from rocking of the carriage 24, without disengaging the pulleys 28 or 29 from the drive-pulley 27 by the vertical rocking of the carriage 241-. These springs also insure a driving engagement between the driven pulleys 28, 29 and thedrive pulley 27.

abutment 61 will The invention exemplifies an ironing machine in which the flat-iron may be reciprocated at the will of the operator by reverse gearing stationarily mounted on the frame; in which an endless belt for shifting the'carriage is driven in opposite directions by said gearlng; in which the friction gearing is locked in operative position by a connection which is easily operable by a handle on the carriage; in which the flat-iron is adapted to be lifted While the carriage is travelling ,and in which provision is made for automatically unlocking and shifting-the controlling device for the friction gearing;

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by LettersPatent, is: y

I. In an ironing machine, the combination of aframe, an ironing table, a horizontally reciproeable carriage, a flat-iron mounted on the carriage and to reciprocate horizontally over the table, friction-gearing, mechanism for reciprocating the carriage driven by said gearing, and means mounted to travel with the carriage for controlling the gearing to start and stop the iron at will at any point within its range of travel.

2. In an ironing machine, the combination of a frame,.an ironing table, a horizontally reciprocable and vertically swinging carriage, a flat-iron mounted on the carriage and to reciprocate horizontally ver the table, frictiongearing stationarily mounted on the frame, mechanism for reciprocating the carriage driven by said gearing, means for controlling the gearing to start and stop the iron at will at any point within its range of travel, and means for swinging the carriage to shift the iron vertically.

, 3. In an ironing machine, the combination of a frame, an ironing table, a horizontally reeiprocable carriage, a flat-iron mounted on the carriage and to reciprocate horizontally over the table, reversible gearing stationarily mounted on the frame, means operable by said gearing for reciprocating the carriage, and means mounted to travel with the carriage for controlling said gearing to start and stop the iron at will at any point within its range of v travel.

at. In an ironing machine, the combination of a frame, an ironing table, a horizontally reciprocable carriage, a flat-iron mounted on the carriage and to reciprocate horizontally over the table, reversible gearing stationarily mounted on the frame, means operable by said gearing for reciprocating the carriage, and

over the table, reversible gearing stationarily mounted on the frame, mechanism operable by the gearing for reciprocating the carriage, and means comprising a handle travelling with the carriage, and a rock shaft operable by said handle mounted inthe frame and operable to control saidZ gearing to start and stop. the iron at will atv any point within its range: of travel.

6.. In an ironing machine, thecombination of a frame, an'iron'ing table, a horizontally reciprocable carriage, a flat-iron mounted onthe carriage and to reciprocate horizontally over'the table, reversible gearing stationar-ily mount-ed onv the frame, means operable by the gearing for reciprocating the carriage, a handle and'gears operable thereby travelling with the carriage, a rock shaft. mounted in the frame, means operable by the gears and comprisinga sliding, connection for rocking tl e shafhto control said gearing to'st-art and stop the iron at willat any point within its range of travel.

7. In an ironingemachine, the combination of a frame, an ironing table, a horizontally reciprocable and vertically swinging carriage, a flat-iron mounted on the carriage and to reciprocate horizontally over the table, reversible gearing stationarily mounted on the frame, mechanism operable bythe gearing for reciprocating the carriage, means comprising a handle travellingwith the carriage and connected to control said gearing to start and stop the iron at will at any point within its range of travel, and means for swinging the carriage to lift the iron.

8. In an ironing machine, the combination of a frame, an ironing table, a horizontally reciproeable and vertically swinging carriage, a flat-iron mounted on the carriage and to reciprocate horizontally over the table, an endless belt connected to reciprocate the carriage, the reversible gearing for driving the belt in opposite directions, means to control the gearing to start and stop the iron at will at any point Within its range of travel, and means to swing the carriage to lift the iron off the table.

9. In an ironing machine, the combination of a frame, an ironing table, a horizontally reciprocable and Vertically swinging carriage, a flat-iron mounted on the carriage and to reciprocate horizontally over the table, reversible gearing comprising friction pulleys, means mounted to travel wlth the carriage for controlling the gearing to start and stop'the iron at will at. any point within its range of travel, spring-means for press ing the pulleys together, and means for swinging the carriage to lift the iron, said spring means operating to permit swinging of the carriage without affecting the position of the pulleys. V

10. In an ironing machine, the combination ofa frame,an ironing table, a horizon tally reeiprocable carriage, a fiat iron mounted on the carriage and to reciprocate horizontally over the table, gearing comprising a drive-element and oppositely driven elements, mechanism operable by said driven elements for reciprocating the carriage, means for shifting said elements to start and stop the iron at any point Within its range comprising a pair of coacting gears, said gears embodying means to lock the driven elements in their assigned positions.

11. In an ironing machine, the combination of a frame, an ironing table, a horizon tally r-eciprocable carriage, a flat iron mounted on the carriage and to reciprocate horizontally over the table, gearing comprising a drive-element and oppositelydriven elements, mechanism operable by said driven elements for reciprocating the carriage, and means mounted to travel with the carriage for shifting said elements to start and stop the iron at will at any point within its range, said means embodying means to lock the driven elements in their assigned positions.

12. In an ironing machine, the combination of a frame, an ironing table, a horizon tally reciprocable carriage, a fiat iron mounted on the carriage and to reciprocate horizontally over the table, gearing comprising a drive-element and oppositely driven elements, mechanism operable by said driven elements for reciprocating the carriage, and a handle and gears travelling with the carriage and connected to shift said elements to start and stop the iron at will at any point within its range of travel, said gears embodying means to lock the driven elements in their assigned positions.

13. In an ironing machine, the combination of a frame, an ironing table, a horizontally reciprocable carriage, a flat iron mounted on the carriage and to reciprocate horizontally over the tabie, mechanism for reciprocating the carriage comprising reversible gearin means mounted to travel with the carriage for controlling the gearing to start or stop the iron at will at any point within its range of travel, and means for automatically shifting the controlling means to stop the carriage when it reaches the ends of its stroke.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 3rd day of March, 1926.

HUBERT G. ELLIS. NORMAN C. ELLIS. 

